Falcons–Panthers rivalry

Atlanta Falcons–Carolina Panthers

Regular season history
First meeting	September 3, 1995
First result	ATL 23, CAR 20(OT)
Last meeting	November 23, 2008
Last result	ATL 45, CAR 28
Next meeting	@Falcons, September 20, 2009
Largest victory	ATL 41, CAR 0 (2002)
Smallest victory	ATL 13, CAR 12 (2000)
Current streak	ATL W1 (2008—present)
All-time series	ATL leads 17-11

The NFL rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League is a relatively new sports rivalry between two teams in the NFC South. Both teams are known for having talented players like Michael Vick, Julius Peppers, Jamal Anderson, DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner, and Steve Smith. Both franchises have a combined six divisional titles and two super bowl appearances, Falcons Super Bowl XXXIII, Panthers Super Bowl XXXVIII. It is known as the I-85 Rivalry because both Atlanta and Charlotte are routed along Interstate 85.

In the NBA, the moniker is used to refer to games played between the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Bobcats, who also enjoy an intense rivalry of their own; the Hawks were also onetime rivals of the Charlotte Hornets from 1988 until 2002, when the Hornets relocated to New Orleans.

Beginning

The Panthers and Falcons have played each other in both the NFC West and now the NFC South. Their games have been marked by intensity, close scores, and remarkable performances. Carolina's first ever regular season game was against the Falcons, a 23-20 overtime loss. But Carolina went on to defeat Atlanta 21-17 later that season, their seventh win---the most ever for an expansion franchise.

NFC South

In 2002 The NFL realigned into eight divisions, which the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were placed into the newly formed NFC South. Before the 2002 NFL season, The Falcons and Panthers were place in the NFC West division

• Signature Moment: More recently, Atlanta's Michael Vick and Carolina's Julius Peppers, often considered two of the best athletes in the League, have faced each other with spectacular results. The Falcons have manhandled the Panthers since the arrival of Michael Vick until 2005, when the Panthers beat the defending NFC South champion Falcons by winning at home 24-6 and then overtook the Falcons on New Year's Day 44-11 in Atlanta. This ended the Panthers' eight-game losing streak in the Georgia Dome and clinched a playoff berth in the process, along with making their 2nd largest margin of victory in franchise history.

• Signature Moment: However, in the opening game of the 2006 season, the Falcons would win in Carolina, 20-6. The Panthers got their revenge later that season, beating the Falcons 10-3 in Atlanta on December 24. The game featured Carolina running the ball 52 times, while completing only 4 passes. On some plays, Carolina ditched the passing game entirely by taking quarterback Chris Weinke out of the game and direct-snapping the ball to running back DeAngelo Williams.

• Signature Moment: In the two teams' first meeting since the incarceration of Michael Vick the Panthers edged the Falcons at the Georgia Dome 27-20. Jake Delhomme threw two touchdowns for the Panthers but had to leave the game, replaced by David Carr, who threw just four passes and completed three of them for 56 yards. Joey Harrington of the Falcons had two touchdown throws but could not get a tying score in the fourth for Atlanta.

• Signature Moment: On November 23, 2008, Falcons' Running Back Michael Turner experienced one of his best games in career history, carrying the ball 24 times for 117 yards and a career high 4 TD runs, leading Atlanta to a 45-28 victory over Carolina in the Georgia Dome. The game starts out with a 23-yard Jason Elam field goal and a 7-yard Harry Douglas TD run giving Atlanta a 1st Quarter 10-0 lead. In the second quarter, RB Michael Turner gets his 1st TD of the day on a 1-yard run. Carolina would then get on the board with a 23-yard John Kasay field goal as the 1st half closes out. In the 2nd half, the Panthers began to make the game interesting on a 5-yard DeAngelo Williams TD run and a 21-yard Kasay field goal as the 3rd Quarter closes out. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta replied with Turner's 2nd TD on a 4-yard run. Carolina would then reply with a 12-yard Jake Delhomme TD run (with a successful Williams 2-point conversion run) to trail the Falcons 24-21. After that, the Falcons would then get up big with Turner's 3rd TD on a 1-yard run and a 61-yard Douglas Punt Return for a TD, leading the Panthers 38-21. The Panthers tried to make a comeback with a 16-yard Muhsin Muhammad TD pass from Delhomme, but the Falcons sealed the deal with Turner's 4th and final TD on a 16-yard run.

Game results

Overtime Result

Date	Location	Winner	Score
September 3, 1995	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	23-30
December 17, 1995	Clemson (SC)	Carolina Panthers	21-17
September 1, 1996	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	29-6
November 3, 1996	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	20-17
September 7, 1997	Atlanta	Carolina Panthers	9-6
October 26, 1997	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	21-12
September 6, 1998	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	19-14
October 4, 1998	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	51-23
October 31, 1999	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	27-20
November 28, 1999	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	43-28
September 17, 2000	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	15-10
October 29, 2000	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	13-12
September 23, 2001	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	24-16
November 25, 2001	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	10-7
October 20, 2002	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	30-0
November 24, 2002	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	41-0
September 28, 2003	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	23-3
December 7, 2003	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	20-14
October 3, 2004	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	27-10
December 18, 2004	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	34-31
December 4, 2005	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	24-6
January 1, 2006	Atlanta	Carolina Panthers	44-11
September 10, 2006	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	20-6
December 24, 2006	Atlanta	Carolina Panthers	10-3
September 23, 2007	Atlanta	Carolina Panthers	27-20
November 11, 2007	Charlotte	Atlanta Falcons	20-13
September 28, 2008	Charlotte	Carolina Panthers	24-9
November 23, 2008	Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	45-28